Hamdan attends NAS Night Challenge Championship

Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the competitions for individuals at the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Night Challenge Championship held as part of the NAS Sports Tournament 2019 under the theme ‘Limitless Abilities’ with total prizes exceeding Dhs6 million.

The 7th edition of the NAS Sports Tournament attracted 1,250 participants from 49 nationalities competing in a wide range of categories including cycling, swimming, running, and Jiu-Jitsu among others. The competitions for individuals kicked off after the competitions for teams concluded last week.

Attending the competitions were Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Padel Association; Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council (DSC); Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council; and Hassan Al Mazrouei, Director of NAS Sports Tournament.

The Nad Al Sheba Night Challenge Championship was first integrated into the NAS Sports Tournament in its fifth edition back in 2017 and has since become an integral part of the event attracting many participants of different nationalities. The two-day NAS Night Challenge Championship is open to both professionals and amateurs alike from both sexes. A total of 120 men and 41 women took part in the professional categories this year, wihile 1,089 men and women participated in the amateur categories. Men accounted for 67% of participants and women’s participation reached 33%.

The seventh edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament kicked-off May 7 with an opening ceremony at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex. The opening ceremony commenced at 22:00.

Organised by Dubai Sports Council under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest event of its kind in terms of participation and prize money. The event has been held annually during the Holy Month of Ramadan since 2013.

The NAS Sports Tournament has seen more than 23,000 athletes take part over the past six seasons, including amateurs and international legends like Zinedine Zidane and Falcao, and even Ambassadors and Consul Generals of different countries.

The seventh season of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, being held under the slogan ‘Limitless Abilities’, will see more than 6,500 participants in action over the coming 18 days in 13 different events: Futsal, Volleyball, Padel, Fencing, Wheelchair Basketball, Futsal for People with Hearing Disabilities, NAS Night Challenge, the 5km and 10km Run, 75km Cycle Race, 3x3 Basketball, Jiu-Jitsu, Cricket and Snowboarding. There is a prize purse of AED6 million on offer for them.

Welcoming the participants, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said, “The Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament has emerged as the most important community sports event in the Holy Month of Ramadan, meeting its many objectives, chief of among which is to promote sport and attract participants from the different segments of our community, and encourage them to embrace a physically healthy lifestyle not just during the Holy Month but throughout the year.”

Recently, amid cheers from the packed stands, Dubai 2021 bounced back from a setback to win a fourth NAS Volleyball Championship title for the franchise, with a score of 3-1.

Winners of the title in 2015 and 2016, as well as last year as F3, Dubai 2021 lost a close first set and were trailing 11-15 in the second. They then fought back to level the scores at 21-21 and shifted gears thereon, winning 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex on Tuesday night. The winners received a cheque of AED600,000, while the runners-up took home Dhs500,000.

The two teams received their trophies and medals from  Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Information and President of Tennis Emirates, in the presence of senior officials.